Unbiblical Excommunications

The three men who style themselves “The extraordinary Session of the Reformed Presbytery of North America (General Meeting)”, are Greg Price of Albany, New York, Greg Barrow of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and Lyndon Dohms, also of Edmonton, Alberta. They claim to be the only faithful elders in North America.

In speaking of themselves and their group, these three elders use the following descriptive words:

Faithful Church

True Presbyterian government

Lawful Church Court

They claim that it is Christ Himself who has placed them in authority, citing 1 Corinthians 12:28:

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

However, the truth that God gives elders to His church to govern His people does not mean that God placed Greg Price, Greg Barrow and Lyndon Dohms in authority, or that He endorses their rule in a group they call the only faithful church.

In the Bible we also read many warnings about false leaders. One such warning is found in Matthew 7:15-20:

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

One “fruit” of the elderships of Greg Price, Greg Barrow and Lyndon Dohms is a large number of excommunications. In the course of their joint elderships, they have excommunicated or claim as “self-excommunicated” MOST of the people who placed themselves under their oversight. Almost all of the people whom they claim to have lawfully excommunicated were:

Orthodox in doctrine

Godly in life

The current (November 5, 2006) rash of excommunications stems from a refusal of brethren to take an oath imposed by these men. Now, in order to be a faithful member of “Christ’s Church”, one must swear an oath that the writings of these three men are faithful subordinate standards of “the Church.”

By imposing this oath upon brethren who:

· held to their previously stated terms of communion

· are orthodox in doctrine

· and are godly in life

Greg Price, Greg Barrow and Lyndon Dohms reveal themselves to be oppressive, self-made rulers over the flock. They seek to terrorize true Christians with threats of excommunication. They seek to destroy the good names of godly men and women. They epitomize the SCHISMATIC spirit they claim to hate by unnecessarily dividing the people of God from one another.

Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:

Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. (3 John 5-10)

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. (Proverbs 29:2)

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.(Proverbs 6:16-19) (Emphasis added.)

Many brethren have sought to reason Biblically with these men, but evidently to no avail. We therefore await God’s further dealings with them:

He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. (Proverbs 29:1)

A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. (Proverbs 19:5)

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. (Proverbs 17:15)

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. (Romans 12:19)

The Lord will argue the cause of His slandered, suffering people at the hands of these self-appointed, persecuting elders. May God have mercy upon their souls, and not destroy them utterly.

This entry was posted
on Monday, December 18th, 2006 at 10:42 am and is filed under Bible Thoughts, Practical Christianity.
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